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World Vision is a community development organisation that provides short- and long-term assistance to 100 million people worldwide. The support of generous Australians makes our work possible.

As a Christian organisation, our mission is to attract and engage supporters to eliminate poverty and its causes amongst the children and communities we serve around the world.

We work with people of all cultures, faiths and genders to achieve transformation. We do this through relief and development, policy advocacy and change, collaboration, education about poverty, and emphasis on personal growth, social justice and spiritual values.

Our work is project-based. Relief work can be short-term, while rehabilitation and development may be longer-term. We may initiate a project or respond to an invitation. Our work is always dependent on the consent of the communities involved.

Access your personal details and tax statements

See the difference your support is making

Send an eLetter to your sponsored child

My World Vision is your online account that’s set up just for you. It’s an easy-to-use space that gives you the opportunity to see photos and videos of your sponsored child and their community, from any digital device. You can also send an
eLetter to your sponsored child, update your personal details and access your annual tax statement at the end of the financial year.

We’ll still send you updates if you decide not to use My World Vision. But we’d highly recommend it – as it’s very convenient and can help you get the most out of your sponsorship.

When you make a donation, we’ll keep you in the loop about World Vision news and how your contribution is helping to change lives. From time to time, you may hear from us about World Vision’s work in other areas, such as global emergencies.

When you sponsor a child, we’ll send you relevant information including progress reports and easy-to-follow instructions for sending cards and gifts at special times of the year. See “What do I get when I sponsor a child?” on this page for more details.

If you’d like to adjust your mail preferences, please call us on 13 32 40 and we’ll be happy to help.

Child sponsorship takes a long-term and holistic approach, and helps lift entire communities out of poverty by addressing multiple needs. When you sponsor a child for $48 per month, your contributions and those of other child sponsors and donors and grant funds are often combined to support projects and activities that can transform the world where your sponsored child lives.

When you sponsor a child, you’re supporting work that builds a better future for the entire community. That’s because over 60 years of experience has taught us that the best way to change a child’s life is to transform the world in which they live – their family, their community and the local area.

When a community is stable and productive its members can provide for children’s long-term wellbeing; the most effective way to improve children’s wellbeing is to strengthen their community.

The wellbeing of a child is dependent on their families and community and in order to thrive, children need to grow up in an environment that provides the essentials for today together with hope and opportunity for the future.

Ideally, World Vision Child Sponsorship is a long-term commitment for the duration of work in a particular community, which typically lasts for 10-15 years.

But the length of child sponsorship can be different for each sponsor. Some sponsors join us at the beginning of our work in their sponsored child’s community and others join us towards the end.

Sponsorship can end for a number of reasons. These include:

• our work in a community is completed and it’s self-sustaining;
• your sponsored child finishes school or begins to earn an income; and
• your sponsored child’s family moves away from the community where World Vision is working.

In many cases, children remain sponsored until they reach adulthood, can support themselves or marry.

Whatever the reason, we’ll notify you when your sponsorship comes to an end. At that time, we’ll help you consider your options for ongoing support, including sponsoring another child if you wish.

When a sponsorship program ends, it’s an exciting time because the community has reached a point where its members can continue the development work we began together on their own. In most cases, committees made up of local people are set up to monitor progress and oversee ongoing development work.

In the final years of working with your sponsored child’s community, we help to prepare and equip them to continue with their own development activities into the future, without World Vision’s assistance.

By the time we’re ready to leave your sponsored child’s area, our aim is that all the children and families who live there are healthier; better able to meet their own needs and ready to continue the process of change that you’ve helped to start.

The ultimate goal of child sponsorship is self-sufficiency. When this has been achieved, World Vision moves on to help another community in need.

Through our sponsorship programs, children and adults gain knowledge and skills which stay with them long after World Vision has gone, and for generations to come.

While we’re motivated by our Christian values and faith, at World Vision we recognise that many people in the world do not share our beliefs. It’s not our goal to convert anyone through our work, and we never seek to do so.

Our Christian faith is the foundation for all we do and we strive to follow the teachings of Jesus Christ. We’re committed to the poor because we’re Christian. We seek to express our Christian beliefs in an inclusive and non-judgmental manner and we’re committed to working with people of all cultures, faiths and genders to achieve transformation.

World Vision is a member of the Australian Council for International Development (ACFID) and adheres to the ACFID Code of Conduct. The code is underpinned by the values of integrity, accountability, transparency, respect, effectiveness, equity and cooperation.

The primary focus of our work is addressing the immediate and long-term development needs of communities, particularly the most vulnerable. We respond to these needs regardless of the religion or beliefs of a community or of individual community members.

As we do work in partnership with communities, depending on specific circumstances we may partner with local faith-based groups and encourage their participation in the development process.

Child sponsorship is a very special journey that develops over time. That’s why we encourage you to view sponsorship as a long-term partnership. Sponsors tell us how much they enjoy watching their sponsored child grow up, as their support makes a real difference from year to year.

But we understand that your circumstances may change, and that’s why you can cancel your sponsorship at any time, for any reason. If that happens, we’ll continue to care for the child you’ve sponsored through our work in the community and may give them the opportunity of connecting with a new sponsor.

If you don’t wish to cancel your sponsorship, but would like to adjust your donations, we have flexible options to help you continue your support in a way that suits you.

You may also like to consider sharing the cost of child sponsorship with others. Some sponsors team up with a friend, family member, or a group of people. It's also possible to transfer your existing child sponsorship to someone else if you'd like.

Simply get in touch with us on 13 32 40 if you’d like to discuss your options or cancel your sponsorship.

You and your sponsored child

It’s a special decision, and that’s why you can read information about each child who’s waiting for sponsorship; including their age, birthday, country and community – to help you find that special little person you’ll connect with. If you’re still not sure where to begin, here are some tips to help you decide.

2. Choose a child born on a special date
When you choose a child to sponsor, you can search by their date of birth. Why not choose a day of the year that’s special to you? It might be your birthday, your child’s birthday or another day that is significant for you. What better way to commemorate an important date, than by reaching out to a child in need?

3. Choose a child similar in age to a member of your family
Many sponsors love to help a child who is close in age to their son, daughter or other children in their life. This can also be a wonderful way for your children to connect with your sponsored child as they grow up.

4. Choose a child you feel a connection with
Spend some time viewing the photos and information of the many children who are waiting for a sponsor like you. Many new sponsors find that as they do this, they feel a connection to a particular child’s photo, their name or even their hobbies.

5. Choose a child chosen for you
There are so many wonderful children waiting for a sponsor that sometimes it’s just too hard to decide! That’s why we can select a child for you. Please click here if you’d like us to choose a child for you – we'll share with you the name and photo of a child you can sponsor.

Whoever you choose to sponsor, you’ll be making a great choice! But if you’d like some more information or help to decide, we’d love to hear from you. You can chat live or call us on 13 32 40.

Yes, you can! Many people enjoy the experience of sponsoring more than one child.

In some cases, it’s possible to sponsor more than one child from the same community. Or, you may like to sponsor children from different countries – and enjoy learning about a variety of experiences and cultures.

If you have any questions, or would like some help with making this decision, please call us on 13 32 40 or chat with us online.

Supporters often tell us that the best part of sponsoring children is seeing the real difference they are making in a child's life. And the best place to see this change unfold is My World Vision – your personal window into your sponsored child’s world.

Writing to your sponsored child is also a great way to learn more about them and the difference you are helping to make in their community.

Most sponsored children love to receive letters and cards from their sponsors. It can be a great source of encouragement for them to know that someone far away cares about them and their future.

There are three ways to correspond and build a connection with your sponsored child:

1. Send a greeting card or letter supplied by World Vision. To make it easy to keep in touch, several times a year you’ll be given the opportunity to send them a card or letter – including at Christmas and for their birthday.

2. Send an eLetter to your sponsored child via the My World Vision website. It’s a quick and easy way to write to your sponsored child. Your eLetter will be sent to the World Vision office in your sponsored child’s country. It will be printed, translated and passed on to your sponsored child. You’ll receive your response via regular print post.

It can be a wonderful experience sharing letters with your sponsored child. What you write is up to you, but we do ask that you follow our guidelines.

Here are some ideas to get you started:

• Ask about your sponsored child’s family and talk about your own family.
• Talk about real things in your life such as work, sports, the weather and the seasons.
• Describe your neighbourhood and what you see when you look out the window or
walk down the street.
• Your garden or Australian plants may be of interest to your sponsored child, as they often
live in rural areas.
• If you have children, you might like to involve them in writing the letter or include their drawings.
• Tell your sponsored child that you are thinking of them. It’s encouraging for children to
know that their sponsor cares about them.

Being a sponsor doesn’t mean you have to write. That’s entirely up to you. For many people, just knowing they’re making a difference is enough.

Our free eLetter service lets you quickly and easily get in touch with your sponsored child.

You can send eLetters by logging in to My World Vision – you’ll also find helpful suggestions and guidelines for what to write. After you send your eLetter, you can look forward to receiving your sponsored child’s response in the mail.

Please be patient, as it can take up to six months to get a reply to your eLetter. World Vision staff need some time to translate and deliver your correspondence.

Sometimes things can happen out of our control that could delay you hearing from your sponsored child. If you haven’t received a reply within a reasonable amount of time, please contact us on 13 32 40 and we’ll be happy to help.

Prefer to put pen to paper? You can also send a letter in the mail. You’ll find handy tips for letter writing in My World Vision or see “What should I write to my sponsored child about?” on this page.

When you become a sponsor, you’ll receive an introductory letter from your sponsored child within the first three months. But after that, it’s up to you if you’d like to keep the conversation going by writing a letter or eLetter. You can look forward to receiving your sponsored child’s response in the mail.

Sometimes an adult will help your sponsored child write their reply – this can be for a range of reasons including language barriers and literacy levels.

Please be aware that it can take up to six months for your sponsored child’s reply to reach you in the mail. World Vision staff need some time to translate and deliver your correspondence.

Sometimes things can happen out of our control that could delay you hearing from your sponsored child. If you haven’t received a reply within a reasonable amount of time please call us on 13 32 40 and we’ll be happy to help.

It can be exciting sharing your child sponsorship with friends and loved ones, and we encourage you to spread the word! But it’s important to follow some guidelines to keep sponsored children safe and protect their privacy.

The best thing you can do before sharing your sponsorship news is check how to safely share your sponsored child’s information online . It’s a short read that explains what can and can’t be shared online, with simple steps to follow. In most cases, you’re welcome to share updates, photos and videos of your sponsored child and their community via social media.

Some sponsored children live in a country with special rules, meaning their photos can’t be shared online at all – to protect children’s interests and wellbeing. But you can still share updates about their community. If your sponsored child lives in one of these restricted areas, it’ll be noted under their photo on your My World Vision page. If you’re not sure which rules apply to you, please check with us.

What can be shared online (if your sponsored child’s country doesn’t have restrictions):

• photos and videos of your sponsored child and their community provided to you by World Vision (special rules apply for photos you collect during sponsorship visits);
• excerpts of letters and cards from your sponsored child (without last names and addresses);
• your sponsored child’s first name, age, country, language, hobbies, chores and grade level at school; and
• your sponsored child’s general health status (excluding sensitive details).

It can be exciting to get in touch with your sponsored child. That’s why we make it quick and easy for you to send a card or letter, either digitally or in the mail.

Please don’t contact your sponsored child via social networking sites such as Facebook because it can pose problems that may put your sponsored child’s safety and wellbeing at risk:

• It can put you and your sponsored child in a difficult position – people may pressure your sponsored child to ask for gifts, money or other favours.
• Others might access your sponsored child’s social media account, which means that your correspondence and details may not be kept private.
• There can be misunderstandings because of differences in language and culture.
• A lack of safeguards on social media can lead to inappropriate communication.

We encourage you to connect with your sponsored child through World Vision’s letter and card services. You can write your sponsored child a letter (they love hearing from their sponsors in this way) or send an eLetter quickly and easily through your My World Vision account.

If your sponsored child or their family contact you through social media, please don’t respond. Instead, call us on 13 32 40 and we can follow up with the sponsored child and community, educating them about the risks of communicating this way and why we use channels such as letters and eLetters instead.

We understand that you may want to send your sponsored child something special. However, we ask you not to send parcels or large gifts because it can have negative effects:

• World Vision’s office in your sponsored child’s country can’t pay the customs or delivery costs
• Gifts can cause tension amongst family and community members
• No matter how well meant, the gift may be inappropriate, culturally or otherwise
• The item could easily be stolen in the mail

For more information about the kinds of small, paper-based gifts that you’re welcome to send to your sponsored child, see our Send a gift policy.

While we understand some sponsors would love to give more, we ask that you don’t send money directly to your sponsored child because it can have negative effects:

• Sending money to an individual child and/or their family doesn’t contribute to the long-term development goals of the sponsorship program.
• Our field offices are not equipped to handle funds sent to them directly from sponsors.
• As with gifts, sending money may cause tension amongst family and community members.
• In some countries it’s against the law to receive and send foreign currency.

By sponsoring a child, you're already doing the best thing for a community.

Instead, you might consider sending your child a letter or eLetter to let them know you care. Or, for more information about the kinds of small, paper-based gifts that you’re welcome to send to your sponsored child, see our Send a gift policy.

Yes. Many sponsors add visiting their sponsored child to their overseas trip plans and find it’s an exciting and life-changing experience!

Nothing equals seeing firsthand the difference you’re making in your sponsored child’s life through visiting their community.

“I’ve realised how lucky I am. Every time we took a drink of water, we just took it for granted. Every time we snuggled up under our warm, cosy bed we took it for granted. It’s changed me forever.”
- 11-year-old Anna Plaistowe speaks about the amazing experience of visiting her family’s sponsored child in Cambodia.

World Vision is committed to protecting the safety and wellbeing of children, families and communities with whom we work. So there are some important details you’ll need to be aware of before planning your visit and booking your travel dates.

Please call us on 13 32 40 or email us at least three months before your intended departure date so we can arrange for the visit with the World Vision office in your sponsored child’s country.

No. Many sponsors love the idea of spending time with their sponsored child. But World Vision doesn’t facilitate bringing sponsored children to Australia for visits, as it's not in their best interests.

The focus of child sponsorship is improving the lives of children as the community around them is strengthened. For sponsored children, leaving home and travelling overseas could be very costly and disruptive to their family life and education, and put their wellbeing at risk.

But we do encourage you to make the journey yourself. When you take up the exciting opportunity to visit your sponsored child you can see firsthand how your support is making a difference for them and their community. Many sponsors have described their visit as an experience they'll never forget!

You can also share your life with your sponsored child in other meaningful ways – through letters, cards and photos. That’s part of the joy of child sponsorship.

No. We appreciate sponsors’ generous attitude towards helping their sponsored children. But World Vision doesn’t organise adoptions, nor are sponsored children available through other parties.

Your child sponsorship can make a great difference for a child right where they live. That’s because when you sponsor a child with World Vision, your donations help to transform their community, while they continue to benefit from the love and care of their own family and friends.

When sponsored children stay in their communities they can also grow up to become champions of change – as they’re empowered to help themselves and others overcome poverty into the future.

Yes, you can continue your child sponsorship if you’re living or travelling outside of Australia. You’ll need to have an international credit card or Australian bank account to continue your regular donations. If you have any questions, please call us on 13 32 40 or chat with us online.

If your sponsored child leaves the community, we’ll notify you as soon as possible.

Sponsored children and their families can decide to move out of the sponsorship area for a range of different reasons that can benefit the child, such as to reunite with family members, or pursue work and other opportunities. Generally, families make this decision with a great deal of care and consideration.

If your sponsored child moves, we’ll be in touch to discuss your options, including the opportunity to sponsor another child and continue the good work your sponsorship has already done.

We’d really encourage you to involve your younger family members in child sponsorship. In fact, many sponsors tell us that sharing child sponsorship with children is a fun and educational experience.

Children can connect with sponsored children in a special way, through sending letters and pictures. Children can read progress updates and news about World Vision’s global work, helping them to discover different cultures and ways of life. They can also learn the value of giving to others in need, and gain a greater appreciation for the good things in their own lives.

If you’d like to register for child sponsorship in a child’s name, we can arrange that. Please call us on 13 32 40 and we’ll be happy to help. We can arrange for an adult to also be listed on the sponsorship for payment purposes – so that you receive an annual tax statement.

No, it’s not possible to sponsor an Australian child with World Vision. You can help to make a lasting difference for children and families in Australia by supporting our Australia Program.

Through this program, World Vision works with many Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander communities across Australia, supporting them to lead their own development and build on their strengths. We do this at the national level by engaging with government, and at a local level by partnering with communities in metropolitan, regional and remote parts of the country. The focus of this work includes early childhood development, youth development, and leadership and governance.

How does Child Sponsorship work?

When you sponsor a child, you can help to change their world. World Vision’s Child Sponsorship Program helps children living in disadvantaged regions to escape poverty.

Experience has taught us that the best way to change a child’s life is to transform the world in which they live – their family, their community and the local area.

As a child sponsor, you partner with us as we work with local families, community groups and governments in breaking the cycle of poverty and creating long-term change. Using your donations, we identify the causes of the child’s poverty and vulnerability, and create development projects designed to address them.

Our goal is that all children in the community will benefit from our work, which can include improved healthcare, education, water, sanitation and food. There are so many wonderful stories of sponsored children who’ve grown up healthy and happy – thanks to generous people like you.

Depending on child and community needs, sponsorship projects may focus on:

Clean water and sanitation

Access to clean water, toilets and hygiene education give your sponsored child better health and more time and energy to learn.

Health and nutrition

Quality local health services and health and nutrition education for families give your sponsored child the chance to grow up strong and protected from preventable illness.

Food and agriculture

Skills for families to grow more crops and better protect the environment give your sponsored child the food they need to lead a healthy, active life.

Education and child rights

Quality education and protecting child rights give your sponsored child knowledge and skills and the freedom to have a brighter future.

Income generation

By supporting communities and families to improve their incomes you can help your sponsored child reach their full potential as they gain access to life's essentials.

And we’ll send you an annual tax statement in July detailing your donations in the past financial year.

Every community is different – what you receive and its timing may vary depending on your sponsored child’s unique context. If you write to your sponsored child, we recommend you allow at least three months between letters for delivery and response.

You can choose from a range of flexible payment options. Many sponsors choose automatic credit card or bank account deductions, since they’re easy and reliable options. We’re not able to accept BPay payments. But you can pay by cheque or money order if you’d prefer.

You can also decide if you’d like to contribute monthly, quarterly, or annually – whatever works best for you.

If you have a query about your child sponsorship payments or arrangements, please call us on 13 32 40 and we’d be happy to help.

Sponsors often ask us if they can give more to help their sponsored child – we appreciate this generosity that can help make life-changing work possible.

There is a fixed donation amount of $48 per month for each individual child sponsorship (paid monthly, quarterly or annually). But many sponsors choose to round up their donations by contributing an additional amount – either by sponsoring another child or giving to other programs that support children and families.

Here are some options to consider if you’d also like to give an extra amount:

• You may like to sponsor an additional child. In some cases, you can sponsor more than one child from the same community. Or, you may prefer to sponsor a child from another country altogether. If you’d like help with this, please chat with us online or call us on 13 32 40.

• You can contribute to our Child Rescue program. Your donation can help provide support to children living in dangerous situations of child labour and exploitation through prevention, protection and rehabilitation.

• You can help save lives and relieve the suffering of children and families affected by conflict or natural disaster by donating to support our work in emergencies. With your support, our teams around the world can help to protect lives, restore dignity and renew hope in communities affected by emergencies.

• You might choose to support a specific area of community development work you’re passionate about. You can choose to contribute to work focused on education, health, water or livelihoods.

• You can contribute to our Australia Program. In Australia, we work in partnership with Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander organisations and communities, as they lead their own development and build on their strengths. Our focus is education for life, supporting early-years development for pre-schoolers, strengthening parenting skills, building youth resilience and developing community leadership initiatives that support meaningful and lasting change.

• You can give a donation to where it’s most needed – and contribute to a broad range of work including disaster relief and support for areas not suited to child sponsorship. This is a great way for you to help bring about long-term, sustainable change for communities around the world.

If you’d like to add one of these donations to your child sponsorship payments, please call us on 13 32 40 or chat with us online and we’ll help you set up the contribution and amount of your choice – either as a regular or one-off payment.

When you sponsor a child, your financial support can make a lasting difference, as it helps both them and other children in their community by transforming the world in which they live.

Your sponsorship donations are pooled with those of others who sponsor children in the same community where your sponsored child lives. Collectively, your support enables World Vision to provide benefits such as education, healthcare, nutritious food and clean water for the community’s children through an Area Development Program – an area that is usually home to around 20,000 people or more.

We work hard to make sure all resources are used as efficiently and effectively as possible to bring maximum impact to children in need.

In fact, 81 percent of every dollar donated goes to field programs and advocacy work.

We take financial accountability very seriously. Our financial statements are externally audited (in the same way and to the same standards which apply to Australian companies) and our annual reports are prepared to internationally acknowledged standards of transparency for not-for-profits.

No. When you sponsor a child, you’re not entering into a contract but making a voluntary ongoing contribution.

As a child sponsor, you can enter an agreement to set up regular, automatic payments if that works best for you. We’ll give you more information about your options and how this works.

We encourage you to view child sponsorship as a long-term partnership. But if your circumstances change we can help you adjust or cancel your sponsorship donations at any time, for any reason. For more information see “What if I need to cancel?” or call us on 13 32 40.

The selection of children for sponsorship is a respectful process that happens in partnership with their community.

We work with community representatives to identify the local areas where the needs are greatest and the community then chooses children from those areas for sponsorship. Sponsored children are chosen from the most vulnerable families and being sponsored often gives them increased visibility and importance in the community.

Participation in all World Vision programs is voluntary, and sponsored children and their families choose to be a part of the program. We always respect the rights of families to make decisions about this.

Your sponsored child, along with other children in their community, benefits from the changes made possible by your donations.

Your sponsored child and their family are part of a World Vision program that takes place in a defined area – usually home to around 20,000 people or more. We call this an Area Development Program (ADP).

To start an ADP, first an area is identified where children and families are suffering because of poverty. We work with community representatives to identify local areas that have the greatest need.

Afterwards, the decision to commence a sponsorship program is made with the community. An assessment is carried out by local World Vision staff alongside community representatives, local authorities and other non-government organisations in the area.

Before we commence a sponsorship program, the following things must be in place:
• community understanding and commitment to the program; and
• a basic level of security and stability in the community, access to remote parts of the community and basic communications so that we can regularly visit and monitor children’s wellbeing.

We work with the local people to help them develop and carry out projects to improve children’s wellbeing in the long term. That’s where your support as a child sponsor can make such a difference – supporting projects and activities that can transform the world where your sponsored child lives.

World Vision works in some of the poorest countries in the world where the need for help is greatest.

World Vision Australia is part of the World Vision International Partnership that works in four regions: Asia and the Pacific, Africa, Latin America and the Caribbean, and the Middle East, Eastern Europe and Central Asia.

The Partnership operates in more than 90 countries and, as a whole, is one of the world’s largest non-governmental, humanitarian and development agencies. You can read more about the Partnership’s work in our Annual Report.

How does child sponsorship work?

When you sponsor a child, you can help to change their world. World Vision’s Child Sponsorship Program helps children living in disadvantaged regions to escape poverty.

Experience has taught us that the best way to change a child’s life is to transform the world in which they live – their family, their community and the local area.

As a child sponsor, you partner with us as we work with local families, community groups and governments in breaking the cycle of poverty and creating long-term change. Using your donations, we identify the causes of the child’s poverty and vulnerability, and create development projects designed to address them.

Our goal is that all children in the community will benefit from our work, which can include improved healthcare, education, water, sanitation and food. There are so many wonderful stories of sponsored children who’ve grown up healthy and happy – thanks to generous people like you.

Depending on child and community needs, sponsorship projects may focus on:

Clean water and sanitation

Access to clean water, toilets and hygiene education give your sponsored child better health and more time and energy to learn.

Health and nutrition

Quality local health services and health and nutrition education for families give your sponsored child the chance to grow up strong and protected from preventable illness.

Food and agriculture

Skills for families to grow more crops and better protect the environment give your sponsored child the food they need to lead a healthy, active life.

Education and child rights

Quality education and protecting child rights give your sponsored child knowledge and skills and the freedom to have a brighter future.

Income generation

By supporting communities and families to improve their incomes you can help your sponsored child reach their full potential as they gain access to life's essentials.

And we’ll send you an annual tax statement in July detailing your donations in the past financial year.

Every community is different – what you receive and its timing may vary depending on your sponsored child’s unique context. If you write to your sponsored child, we recommend you allow at least three months between letters for delivery and response.

You can choose from a range of flexible payment options. Many sponsors choose automatic credit card or bank account deductions, since they’re easy and reliable options. We’re not able to accept BPay payments. But you can pay by cheque or money order if you’d prefer.

You can also decide if you’d like to contribute monthly, quarterly, or annually – whatever works best for you.

If you have a query about your child sponsorship payments or arrangements, please call us on 13 32 40 and we’d be happy to help.

Sponsors often ask us if they can give more to help their sponsored child – we appreciate this generosity that can help make life-changing work possible.

There is a fixed donation amount of $48 per month for each individual child sponsorship (paid monthly, quarterly or annually). But many sponsors choose to round up their donations by contributing an additional amount – either by sponsoring another child or giving to other programs that support children and families.

Here are some options to consider if you’d also like to give an extra amount:

• You may like to sponsor an additional child. In some cases, you can sponsor more than one child from the same community. Or, you may prefer to sponsor a child from another country altogether. If you’d like help with this, please chat with us online or call us on 13 32 40.

• You can contribute to our Child Rescue program. Your donation can help provide support to children living in dangerous situations of child labour and exploitation through prevention, protection and rehabilitation.

• You can help save lives and relieve the suffering of children and families affected by conflict or natural disaster by donating to support our work in emergencies. With your support, our teams around the world can help to protect lives, restore dignity and renew hope in communities affected by emergencies.

• You might choose to support a specific area of community development work you’re passionate about. You can choose to contribute to work focused on education, health, water or livelihoods.

• You can contribute to our Australia Program. In Australia, we work in partnership with Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander organisations and communities, as they lead their own development and build on their strengths. Our focus is education for life, supporting early-years development for pre-schoolers, strengthening parenting skills, building youth resilience and developing community leadership initiatives that support meaningful and lasting change.

• You can give a donation to where it’s most needed – and contribute to a broad range of work including disaster relief and support for areas not suited to child sponsorship. This is a great way for you to help bring about long-term, sustainable change for communities around the world.

If you’d like to add one of these donations to your child sponsorship payments, please call us on 13 32 40 or chat with us online and we’ll help you set up the contribution and amount of your choice – either as a regular or one-off payment.

When you sponsor a child, your financial support can make a lasting difference, as it helps both them and other children in their community by transforming the world in which they live.

Your sponsorship donations are pooled with those of others who sponsor children in the same community where your sponsored child lives. Collectively, your support enables World Vision to provide benefits such as education, healthcare, nutritious food and clean water for the community’s children through an Area Development Program – an area that is usually home to around 20,000 people or more.

We work hard to make sure all resources are used as efficiently and effectively as possible to bring maximum impact to children in need.

In fact, 81 percent of every dollar donated goes to field programs and advocacy work.

We take financial accountability very seriously. Our financial statements are externally audited (in the same way and to the same standards which apply to Australian companies) and our annual reports are prepared to internationally acknowledged standards of transparency for not-for-profits.

No. When you sponsor a child, you’re not entering into a contract but making a voluntary ongoing contribution.

As a child sponsor, you can enter an agreement to set up regular, automatic payments if that works best for you. We’ll give you more information about your options and how this works.

We encourage you to view child sponsorship as a long-term partnership. But if your circumstances change we can help you adjust or cancel your sponsorship donations at any time, for any reason. For more information see “What if I need to cancel?” or call us on 13 32 40.

The selection of children for sponsorship is a respectful process that happens in partnership with their community.

We work with community representatives to identify the local areas where the needs are greatest and the community then chooses children from those areas for sponsorship. Sponsored children are chosen from the most vulnerable families and being sponsored often gives them increased visibility and importance in the community.

Participation in all World Vision programs is voluntary, and sponsored children and their families choose to be a part of the program. We always respect the rights of families to make decisions about this.

Your sponsored child, along with other children in their community, benefits from the changes made possible by your donations.

Your sponsored child and their family are part of a World Vision program that takes place in a defined area – usually home to around 20,000 people or more. We call this an Area Development Program (ADP).

To start an ADP, first an area is identified where children and families are suffering because of poverty. We work with community representatives to identify local areas that have the greatest need.

Afterwards, the decision to commence a sponsorship program is made with the community. An assessment is carried out by local World Vision staff alongside community representatives, local authorities and other non-government organisations in the area.

Before we commence a sponsorship program, the following things must be in place:
• community understanding and commitment to the program; and
• a basic level of security and stability in the community, access to remote parts of the community and basic communications so that we can regularly visit and monitor children’s wellbeing.

We work with the local people to help them develop and carry out projects to improve children’s wellbeing in the long term. That’s where your support as a child sponsor can make such a difference – supporting projects and activities that can transform the world where your sponsored child lives.

World Vision works in some of the poorest countries in the world where the need for help is greatest.

World Vision Australia is part of the World Vision International Partnership that works in four regions: Asia and the Pacific, Africa, Latin America and the Caribbean, and the Middle East, Eastern Europe and Central Asia.

The Partnership operates in more than 90 countries and, as a whole, is one of the world’s largest non-governmental, humanitarian and development agencies. You can read more about the Partnership’s work in our Annual Report.

You and your sponsored child

It’s a special decision, and that’s why you can read information about each child who’s waiting for sponsorship; including their age, birthday, country and community – to help you find that special little person you’ll connect with. If you’re still not sure where to begin, here are some tips to help you decide.

2. Choose a child born on a special date
When you choose a child to sponsor, you can search by their date of birth. Why not choose a day of the year that’s special to you? It might be your birthday, your child’s birthday or another day that is significant for you. What better way to commemorate an important date, than by reaching out to a child in need?

3. Choose a child similar in age to a member of your family
Many sponsors love to help a child who is close in age to their son, daughter or other children in their life. This can also be a wonderful way for your children to connect with your sponsored child as they grow up.

4. Choose a child you feel a connection with
Spend some time viewing the photos and information of the many children who are waiting for a sponsor like you. Many new sponsors find that as they do this, they feel a connection to a particular child’s photo, their name or even their hobbies.

5. Choose a child chosen for you
There are so many wonderful children waiting for a sponsor that sometimes it’s just too hard to decide! That’s why we can select a child for you. Please click here if you’d like us to choose a child for you – we'll share with you the name and photo of a child you can sponsor.

Whoever you choose to sponsor, you’ll be making a great choice! But if you’d like some more information or help to decide, we’d love to hear from you. You can chat live or call us on 13 32 40.

Yes, you can! Many people enjoy the experience of sponsoring more than one child.

In some cases, it’s possible to sponsor more than one child from the same community. Or, you may like to sponsor children from different countries – and enjoy learning about a variety of experiences and cultures.

If you have any questions, or would like some help with making this decision, please call us on 13 32 40 or chat with us online.

Supporters often tell us that the best part of sponsoring children is seeing the real difference they are making in a child's life. And the best place to see this change unfold is My World Vision – your personal window into your sponsored child’s world.

Writing to your sponsored child is also a great way to learn more about them and the difference you are helping to make in their community.

Most sponsored children love to receive letters and cards from their sponsors. It can be a great source of encouragement for them to know that someone far away cares about them and their future.

There are three ways to correspond and build a connection with your sponsored child:

1. Send a greeting card or letter supplied by World Vision. To make it easy to keep in touch, several times a year you’ll be given the opportunity to send them a card or letter – including at Christmas and for their birthday.

2. Send an eLetter to your sponsored child via the My World Vision website. It’s a quick and easy way to write to your sponsored child. Your eLetter will be sent to the World Vision office in your sponsored child’s country. It will be printed, translated and passed on to your sponsored child. You’ll receive your response via regular print post.

It can be a wonderful experience sharing letters with your sponsored child. What you write is up to you, but we do ask that you follow our guidelines.

Here are some ideas to get you started:

• Ask about your sponsored child’s family and talk about your own family.
• Talk about real things in your life such as work, sports, the weather and the seasons.
• Describe your neighbourhood and what you see when you look out the window or
walk down the street.
• Your garden or Australian plants may be of interest to your sponsored child, as they often
live in rural areas.
• If you have children, you might like to involve them in writing the letter or include their drawings.
• Tell your sponsored child that you are thinking of them. It’s encouraging for children to
know that their sponsor cares about them.

Being a sponsor doesn’t mean you have to write. That’s entirely up to you. For many people, just knowing they’re making a difference is enough.

Our free eLetter service lets you quickly and easily get in touch with your sponsored child.

You can send eLetters by logging in to My World Vision – you’ll also find helpful suggestions and guidelines for what to write. After you send your eLetter, you can look forward to receiving your sponsored child’s response in the mail.

Please be patient, as it can take up to six months to get a reply to your eLetter. World Vision staff need some time to translate and deliver your correspondence.

Sometimes things can happen out of our control that could delay you hearing from your sponsored child. If you haven’t received a reply within a reasonable amount of time, please contact us on 13 32 40 and we’ll be happy to help.

Prefer to put pen to paper? You can also send a letter in the mail. You’ll find handy tips for letter writing in My World Vision or see “What should I write to my sponsored child about?” on this page.

When you become a sponsor, you’ll receive an introductory letter from your sponsored child within the first three months. But after that, it’s up to you if you’d like to keep the conversation going by writing a letter or eLetter. You can look forward to receiving your sponsored child’s response in the mail.

Sometimes an adult will help your sponsored child write their reply – this can be for a range of reasons including language barriers and literacy levels.

Please be aware that it can take up to six months for your sponsored child’s reply to reach you in the mail. World Vision staff need some time to translate and deliver your correspondence.

Sometimes things can happen out of our control that could delay you hearing from your sponsored child. If you haven’t received a reply within a reasonable amount of time please call us on 13 32 40 and we’ll be happy to help.

It can be exciting sharing your child sponsorship with friends and loved ones, and we encourage you to spread the word! But it’s important to follow some guidelines to keep sponsored children safe and protect their privacy.

The best thing you can do before sharing your sponsorship news is check how to safely share your sponsored child’s information online . It’s a short read that explains what can and can’t be shared online, with simple steps to follow. In most cases, you’re welcome to share updates, photos and videos of your sponsored child and their community via social media.

Some sponsored children live in a country with special rules, meaning their photos can’t be shared online at all – to protect children’s interests and wellbeing. But you can still share updates about their community. If your sponsored child lives in one of these restricted areas, it’ll be noted under their photo on your My World Vision page. If you’re not sure which rules apply to you, please check with us.

What can be shared online (if your sponsored child’s country doesn’t have restrictions):

• photos and videos of your sponsored child and their community provided to you by World Vision (special rules apply for photos you collect during sponsorship visits);
• excerpts of letters and cards from your sponsored child (without last names and addresses);
• your sponsored child’s first name, age, country, language, hobbies, chores and grade level at school; and
• your sponsored child’s general health status (excluding sensitive details).

It can be exciting to get in touch with your sponsored child. That’s why we make it quick and easy for you to send a card or letter, either digitally or in the mail.

Please don’t contact your sponsored child via social networking sites such as Facebook because it can pose problems that may put your sponsored child’s safety and wellbeing at risk:

• It can put you and your sponsored child in a difficult position – people may pressure your sponsored child to ask for gifts, money or other favours.
• Others might access your sponsored child’s social media account, which means that your correspondence and details may not be kept private.
• There can be misunderstandings because of differences in language and culture.
• A lack of safeguards on social media can lead to inappropriate communication.

We encourage you to connect with your sponsored child through World Vision’s letter and card services. You can write your sponsored child a letter (they love hearing from their sponsors in this way) or send an eLetter quickly and easily through your My World Vision account.

If your sponsored child or their family contact you through social media, please don’t respond. Instead, call us on 13 32 40 and we can follow up with the sponsored child and community, educating them about the risks of communicating this way and why we use channels such as letters and eLetters instead.

We understand that you may want to send your sponsored child something special. However, we ask you not to send parcels or large gifts because it can have negative effects:

• World Vision’s office in your sponsored child’s country can’t pay the customs or delivery costs
• Gifts can cause tension amongst family and community members
• No matter how well meant, the gift may be inappropriate, culturally or otherwise
• The item could easily be stolen in the mail

For more information about the kinds of small, paper-based gifts that you’re welcome to send to your sponsored child, see our Send a gift policy.

While we understand some sponsors would love to give more, we ask that you don’t send money directly to your sponsored child because it can have negative effects:

• Sending money to an individual child and/or their family doesn’t contribute to the long-term development goals of the sponsorship program.
• Our field offices are not equipped to handle funds sent to them directly from sponsors.
• As with gifts, sending money may cause tension amongst family and community members.
• In some countries it’s against the law to receive and send foreign currency.

By sponsoring a child, you're already doing the best thing for a community.

Instead, you might consider sending your child a letter or eLetter to let them know you care. Or, for more information about the kinds of small, paper-based gifts that you’re welcome to send to your sponsored child, see our Send a gift policy.

Yes. Many sponsors add visiting their sponsored child to their overseas trip plans and find it’s an exciting and life-changing experience!

Nothing equals seeing firsthand the difference you’re making in your sponsored child’s life through visiting their community.

“I’ve realised how lucky I am. Every time we took a drink of water, we just took it for granted. Every time we snuggled up under our warm, cosy bed we took it for granted. It’s changed me forever.”
- 11-year-old Anna Plaistowe speaks about the amazing experience of visiting her family’s sponsored child in Cambodia.

World Vision is committed to protecting the safety and wellbeing of children, families and communities with whom we work. So there are some important details you’ll need to be aware of before planning your visit and booking your travel dates.

Please call us on 13 32 40 or email us at least three months before your intended departure date so we can arrange for the visit with the World Vision office in your sponsored child’s country.

No. Many sponsors love the idea of spending time with their sponsored child. But World Vision doesn’t facilitate bringing sponsored children to Australia for visits, as it's not in their best interests.

The focus of child sponsorship is improving the lives of children as the community around them is strengthened. For sponsored children, leaving home and travelling overseas could be very costly and disruptive to their family life and education, and put their wellbeing at risk.

But we do encourage you to make the journey yourself. When you take up the exciting opportunity to visit your sponsored child you can see firsthand how your support is making a difference for them and their community. Many sponsors have described their visit as an experience they'll never forget!

You can also share your life with your sponsored child in other meaningful ways – through letters, cards and photos. That’s part of the joy of child sponsorship.

No. We appreciate sponsors’ generous attitude towards helping their sponsored children. But World Vision doesn’t organise adoptions, nor are sponsored children available through other parties.

Your child sponsorship can make a great difference for a child right where they live. That’s because when you sponsor a child with World Vision, your donations help to transform their community, while they continue to benefit from the love and care of their own family and friends.

When sponsored children stay in their communities they can also grow up to become champions of change – as they’re empowered to help themselves and others overcome poverty into the future.

Yes, you can continue your child sponsorship if you’re living or travelling outside of Australia. You’ll need to have an international credit card or Australian bank account to continue your regular donations. If you have any questions, please call us on 13 32 40 or chat with us online.

If your sponsored child leaves the community, we’ll notify you as soon as possible.

Sponsored children and their families can decide to move out of the sponsorship area for a range of different reasons that can benefit the child, such as to reunite with family members, or pursue work and other opportunities. Generally, families make this decision with a great deal of care and consideration.

If your sponsored child moves, we’ll be in touch to discuss your options, including the opportunity to sponsor another child and continue the good work your sponsorship has already done.

We’d really encourage you to involve your younger family members in child sponsorship. In fact, many sponsors tell us that sharing child sponsorship with children is a fun and educational experience.

Children can connect with sponsored children in a special way, through sending letters and pictures. Children can read progress updates and news about World Vision’s global work, helping them to discover different cultures and ways of life. They can also learn the value of giving to others in need, and gain a greater appreciation for the good things in their own lives.

If you’d like to register for child sponsorship in a child’s name, we can arrange that. Please call us on 13 32 40 and we’ll be happy to help. We can arrange for an adult to also be listed on the sponsorship for payment purposes – so that you receive an annual tax statement.

No, it’s not possible to sponsor an Australian child with World Vision. You can help to make a lasting difference for children and families in Australia by supporting our Australia Program.

Through this program, World Vision works with many Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander communities across Australia, supporting them to lead their own development and build on their strengths. We do this at the national level by engaging with government, and at a local level by partnering with communities in metropolitan, regional and remote parts of the country. The focus of this work includes early childhood development, youth development, and leadership and governance.

You and World Vision

World Vision is a community development organisation that provides short- and long-term assistance to 100 million people worldwide. The support of generous Australians makes our work possible.

As a Christian organisation, our mission is to attract and engage supporters to eliminate poverty and its causes amongst the children and communities we serve around the world.

We work with people of all cultures, faiths and genders to achieve transformation. We do this through relief and development, policy advocacy and change, collaboration, education about poverty, and emphasis on personal growth, social justice and spiritual values.

Our work is project-based. Relief work can be short-term, while rehabilitation and development may be longer-term. We may initiate a project or respond to an invitation. Our work is always dependent on the consent of the communities involved.

Access your personal details and tax statements

See the difference your support is making

Send an eLetter to your sponsored child

My World Vision is your online account that’s set up just for you. It’s an easy-to-use space that gives you the opportunity to see photos and videos of your sponsored child and their community, from any digital device. You can also send an
eLetter to your sponsored child, update your personal details and access your annual tax statement at the end of the financial year.

We’ll still send you updates if you decide not to use My World Vision. But we’d highly recommend it – as it’s very convenient and can help you get the most out of your sponsorship.

When you make a donation, we’ll keep you in the loop about World Vision news and how your contribution is helping to change lives. From time to time, you may hear from us about World Vision’s work in other areas, such as global emergencies.

When you sponsor a child, we’ll send you relevant information including progress reports and easy-to-follow instructions for sending cards and gifts at special times of the year. See “What do I get when I sponsor a child?” on this page for more details.

If you’d like to adjust your mail preferences, please call us on 13 32 40 and we’ll be happy to help.

Child sponsorship takes a long-term and holistic approach, and helps lift entire communities out of poverty by addressing multiple needs. When you sponsor a child for $48 per month, your contributions and those of other child sponsors and donors and grant funds are often combined to support projects and activities that can transform the world where your sponsored child lives.

When you sponsor a child, you’re supporting work that builds a better future for the entire community. That’s because over 60 years of experience has taught us that the best way to change a child’s life is to transform the world in which they live – their family, their community and the local area.

When a community is stable and productive its members can provide for children’s long-term wellbeing; the most effective way to improve children’s wellbeing is to strengthen their community.

The wellbeing of a child is dependent on their families and community and in order to thrive, children need to grow up in an environment that provides the essentials for today together with hope and opportunity for the future.

Ideally, World Vision Child Sponsorship is a long-term commitment for the duration of work in a particular community, which typically lasts for 10-15 years.

But the length of child sponsorship can be different for each sponsor. Some sponsors join us at the beginning of our work in their sponsored child’s community and others join us towards the end.

Sponsorship can end for a number of reasons. These include:

• our work in a community is completed and it’s self-sustaining;
• your sponsored child finishes school or begins to earn an income; and
• your sponsored child’s family moves away from the community where World Vision is working.

In many cases, children remain sponsored until they reach adulthood, can support themselves or marry.

Whatever the reason, we’ll notify you when your sponsorship comes to an end. At that time, we’ll help you consider your options for ongoing support, including sponsoring another child if you wish.

When a sponsorship program ends, it’s an exciting time because the community has reached a point where its members can continue the development work we began together on their own. In most cases, committees made up of local people are set up to monitor progress and oversee ongoing development work.

In the final years of working with your sponsored child’s community, we help to prepare and equip them to continue with their own development activities into the future, without World Vision’s assistance.

By the time we’re ready to leave your sponsored child’s area, our aim is that all the children and families who live there are healthier; better able to meet their own needs and ready to continue the process of change that you’ve helped to start.

The ultimate goal of child sponsorship is self-sufficiency. When this has been achieved, World Vision moves on to help another community in need.

Through our sponsorship programs, children and adults gain knowledge and skills which stay with them long after World Vision has gone, and for generations to come.

While we’re motivated by our Christian values and faith, at World Vision we recognise that many people in the world do not share our beliefs. It’s not our goal to convert anyone through our work, and we never seek to do so.

Our Christian faith is the foundation for all we do and we strive to follow the teachings of Jesus Christ. We’re committed to the poor because we’re Christian. We seek to express our Christian beliefs in an inclusive and non-judgmental manner and we’re committed to working with people of all cultures, faiths and genders to achieve transformation.

World Vision is a member of the Australian Council for International Development (ACFID) and adheres to the ACFID Code of Conduct. The code is underpinned by the values of integrity, accountability, transparency, respect, effectiveness, equity and cooperation.

The primary focus of our work is addressing the immediate and long-term development needs of communities, particularly the most vulnerable. We respond to these needs regardless of the religion or beliefs of a community or of individual community members.

As we do work in partnership with communities, depending on specific circumstances we may partner with local faith-based groups and encourage their participation in the development process.

Child sponsorship is a very special journey that develops over time. That’s why we encourage you to view sponsorship as a long-term partnership. Sponsors tell us how much they enjoy watching their sponsored child grow up, as their support makes a real difference from year to year.

But we understand that your circumstances may change, and that’s why you can cancel your sponsorship at any time, for any reason. If that happens, we’ll continue to care for the child you’ve sponsored through our work in the community and may give them the opportunity of connecting with a new sponsor.

If you don’t wish to cancel your sponsorship, but would like to adjust your donations, we have flexible options to help you continue your support in a way that suits you.

You may also like to consider sharing the cost of child sponsorship with others. Some sponsors team up with a friend, family member, or a group of people. It's also possible to transfer your existing child sponsorship to someone else if you'd like.

Simply get in touch with us on 13 32 40 if you’d like to discuss your options or cancel your sponsorship.

Sponsor a child like Osman to help build resilience

Eight-year-old Osman, Kenya

I live in Kenya and I am a 8-year-old boy. I really like Football. My birthday is 20 December 2008.

World Vision Australia is an active member of the Australian Council for International Development (ACFID) and adheres to the ACFID Code of Conduct, which defines minimum standards of governance, management and accountability of development for member non-government organisations (NGOs). Complaints relating to a breach of the ACFID Code of Conduct can be made to the ACFID Code of Conduct Committee.